Australia: Grey Khan tries synthetic in handicap at Ballarat Racecourse

Grey Khan has shown solid form in longer turf races in Australia in recent starts, winning a handicap at 1 1/2 miles at Geelong last month for his first win of the year. What is unknown is how that form will translate to the synthetic surface at Ballarat Racecouse on Sunday in a handicap at 1 3/8 miles.

Grey Khan is rated as possible favorite along with Under Oath and Upswing in a race with a maximum of 12 runners. Grey Khan has a slight edge in the weights, with an assignment of 123 pounds compared to Under Oath at top weight of 135.5 pounds and Upswing at 130 pounds.

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Under Oath and Upswing will also have their first starts on a synthetic track Sunday. Under Oath won consecutive starts on turf at a mile and 1 1/4 miles in May, but was fourth in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles on June 6.

Upswing is unbeaten in two starts this year – handicaps at a mile on March 19 and at 1 1/4 miles on May 7.

Of those three, Grey Khan is likely to be closest to the front, but is unlikely to lead. Runners such as Bianco Nuovo (133 pounds), a winner at a mile on turf on June 14, or Nama Dude, a winner at 1 1/4 miles on turf on turf against maidens on June 14, have shown speed. Nama Dude will carry 123 pounds.

Only two of the 15 entrants have won on a synthetic surface – General Custer and Solar Coaster, who is on the also-eligible list. General Custer, trained at Ballarat by Andrew Noblet, won a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs on the synthetic surface at Pakenham Racecourse in 2015.

Of the 15 entrants, nine have not raced on a synthetic surface.

First post time at Ballarat is 10 p.m. Eastern, or 7 p.m. Pacific, on Saturday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.